Our Team

Manuel Vieira

Manuel E. Vieira

Owner/President

I was born on the island of Pico, Azores and immigrated to Brazil when I was 17 years old, where I completed my business degree. In 1972 my wife Laurinda and our three children moved to the United States, where I started to work for my uncle, Antonio Vieira Tomas. In 1977 I had the great opportunity to buy his company and today my two sons take great responsibility in assisting me run the business while my daughter teaches high school. I’m very proud of these accomplishments and the continuing strides my family is making. I invite you to join us for a great business relationship!

Rick Vieira

Rick Vieira

Vice President

I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I came to the United States when at the age of five years old. As the oldest of the Vieira kids, I have worked for A.V.Thomas Produce the longest, since 1984. I began working in the packing shed and slowly learned the farming process. Today I am the Vice President of the Farming Division and am proud of the good quality yams produced by our company.

Carlos Vieira

Carlos E. Vieira

Vice President

Born in 1972 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I spent most of my life in the city of Livingston CA. I began working for A.V.Thomas Produce during the summers and after school, until I devoted full time in 1992. As the years passed, I have learned a lot from my father to the extent that today, I am the Vice President of Packing and Sales divisions.

Brian Escobar
Brian H. Escobar
Director of Organic & Safety Operations
Frank Lucas
Frank Lucas
Safety Manager/Workers Comp
Dana Miller

Dana Miller
Office Manager/Accounting

Rosa Douglas
Rosa Douglas
Accounting Coordinator
Rosa Arechiga
Rosa Arechiga
Payroll Associate
Connie V. Avila
Connie V. Avila
ACA Coordinator
Cristina San Pablo
Cristina San Pablo
Operations Administrator
Jeremy Fookes
Jeremy Fookes
Director of Sales
Manuel Jr Silva
Manuel “JR” Silva
Sales Manager
Laura Machuca
Daniel Varela
Quality Control Manager
Cruz Gutierrez
Cruz Gutierrez
Facilities Packing Manager
Margarita Guerrero
Margarita Guerrero
Shipping Administrator
Maria A. Franco
Maria A. Franco
Shrink Wrap Packing Supervisor
Rosalinda Franco
Rosalinda Franco
Dry Packing Supervisor
Jorge Gutierrez
Jorge Gutierrez
Field Manager
Lazaro Bautista
Lazaro Bautista
Maintenance Repair Supervisor
Zacharie Fookes

Zacharie Fookes
Sales Associate

Fernando Galvan
Fernando Galvan
Shop Manager
Efrain Castillo
Efrain Castillo
Inventory Specialist Assistant